Purpose: To establish a high-glucose (HG) stressed cell model and study the expression of main components of the Dll4/Notch-VEGF signaling pathway under high-glucose stimulation.
Methods: A model of HG-conditioned cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVECs) was first established, and then the expression of Dll4, Notch1, Notch4 and VEGF in HG-stressed cells with or without Notch pathway blockage was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot. To observe cell migration, we also evaluated the Transwell assay.
Results: HUVECs stimulated with 30mmol/L HG was selected as a cell model. RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that HG stimulation induced the expression of Dll4, Notch1 and VEGF and downregulated Notch4. The expressions were reversed after Notch pathway blockage; meanwhile, the blockage of Notch pathway inhibited cell migration under HG condition.
Conclusion: The function of Notch4 in responses to HG stimulation deserves further researching. Combination therapy by blocking Dll4/Notch and VEGF pathways may provide us with a new way for anti-neovascularization.
Keywords: Dll4, Notch1, Notch4, VEGF, endothelial cells